Egypt under emergency rule after church attacks

April 10, 2017 11:05 pm

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, Alexandria, Egypt, Apr 10 – Hundreds gathered Monday to mourn 45 Egyptian Christians killed in jihadist bombings just a week before Easter, after Cairo declared a state of emergency following the attacks on two churches.

The Islamic State group said it was behind the twin bombings that targeted Palm Sunday services at churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria, and threatened further attacks against Egypt’s Christian minority.

Sunday’s first bombing at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta city north of Cairo killed 28 people, the health ministry said.

The second struck outside Saint Mark’s church in Alexandria, killing 17 people after a suicide bomber was prevented from entering the building.

In Cairo, the cabinet said it has approved President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s decision to declare a three-month state of emergency, which was published on Monday in the official gazette.

– State of emergency –

The measure took effect at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT).

Constitutionally, it still has to be presented to and approved by parliament within seven days, but this is a formality given the number of pro-Sisi delegates.

In another development, the interior ministry said on Monday seven people thought to be planning to attack Christians have been killed in a gunfight in Assiut province.

Three of the seven dead were allegedly planning to attack a monastery in Durunka village and to target Christians in both Assiut and Sohag provinces, the ministry said.

It did not say when the firefight took place.

US President Donald Trump called Sisi after Sunday’s church bombings to express his condolences, Washington said.

“The President also expressed his confidence in President Al Sisi’s commitment to protect Christians and all Egyptians,” the White House said on Monday.

In a defiant speech on Sunday, Sisi warned that the war against jihadists would be “long and painful” after he ordered the army to protect “vital infrastructure” and boost security along Egypt’s borders.

The cabinet on Monday announced compensation of 100,000 pounds ($5,500, 5,200 euros) for each death, and a monthly pension of 1,500 pounds, while still evaluating “appropriate compensation” for the injured.

Lawmakers said the state of emergency — Egypt’s first since widespread unrest in 2013 — would help the country face down a jihadist insurgency.

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